Salga slams killings

By unknown -
01 August 2007 - 02:00

Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

South African Local Government Association (Salga) has condemned the recent attacks on and murder of local councillors.

These attacks constitute a lengthy list: a councillor was shot and killed in KwaZulu-Natal last month; the deputy mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality in Mpumalanga, Thandi Mtshweni, was murdered last week; the chief whip of Metsimaholo Municipality, Ntai Mokoena, and Moses Mosala of the Lejweleputsoa Municipality, both in the Free State, were slain.

Amos Masondo, pictured, the executive mayor of Johannesburg and leader of Salga's national executive committee, said there is no justification for the recent slaying of councillors and other officials.

"The torching of municipal buildings, the destruction of property and the disruption of day-to-day normal life of residents and citizens is disgusting.

"Those who want to register their dissatisfaction should do so within the parameters of the law."

Masondo said Salga was opposed to vandalism and criminality allegedly pursued under the guise of protests against service delivery.

But Protas Madlala, an independent political analyst, said councillors who opposed corruption "turn into victims".

He said sometimes councillors were killed because their rivals wanted to take over their positions.